Charles Willson Peale, 15 Apr 1741 - 22 Feb 1827 Search this
Sitter:
George Washington, 22 Feb 1732 - 14 Dec 1799 Search this
Medium:
Mezzotint on paper
Dimensions:
Image: 19 × 15.3 cm (7 1/2 × 6")
Sheet: 24.9 × 16.4 cm (9 13/16 × 6 7/16")
Type:
Print
Date:
1787
Exhibition Label:
Born Westmoreland County, Virginia
Charles Willson Peale sought to capitalize on the public’s interest in the American Revolution (1775–83) by portraying some of its key figures in a series of prints. In 1787, when this mezzotint was made, George Washington was presiding over the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where Peale lived. The future president obliged the artist with three portrait sittings that summer, continuing a relationship that they had begun in 1772. Having the opportunity to portray Washington buoyed Peale’s career, while the politician benefited from the artist’s skilled—and timely—representations.
Nacido en Westmoreland County, Virginia
Charles Willson Peale quiso aprovechar el interés público en la Revolución Estadounidense (1775–1783) retratando a varias de sus figuras clave en una serie de grabados. En 1787, cuando se realizó esta mezzotinta, George Washington presidía la Convención Constitucional en Filadelfia, donde vivía Peale. El futuro presidente accedió a posar tres veces para el artista ese verano, continuando la relación que habían establecido en 1772. La oportunidad de retratar a Washington impulsó la carrera de Peale, mientras que el político se benefició de las excelentes y oportunas efigies.